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MarShawn Lloyd fantasy football news and podcast insights

Source-backed player signal from monitored fantasy football podcasts, shows, videos, articles, and social posts.

RBGB40 insightsLatest Sep 12, 2026
18
Positive signals
10
Negative signals
11
Sources
Sep 12, 2026
Latest update
NegativeProjectionSep 12, 2026Yahoo Fantasy Football
Lloyd has catapulted up fantasy rankings since Josh Jacobs was placed on the Commissioner's Exempt List, but faces a tough divisional matchup at the Vikings in Week 1. Minnesota allowed the tenth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs last season. Green Bay added Kaleb Johnson and has Chris Brooks available to take meaningful snaps, with a report indicating the Packers could deploy a committee to start the season, creating a legitimate threat to Lloyd's workload. Lloyd has played only one regular-season game (six carries for 15 yards) and hasn't played an NFL regular-season snap since 2024, leaving no strong track record to trust in Week 1.
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PositiveBreakoutSep 12, 2026FantasyPros Articles
MarShawn Lloyd was a top-100 pick (88th overall) because he possesses dynamic home-run ability. At USC in his final collegiate campaign, Lloyd produced 816 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns on 115 carries (7.1 yards per carry) in 11 games, plus 18 targets and 13 receptions on 190 routes for 232 receiving yards and 1.22 yards per route run. While injuries have limited his NFL availability (one game since 2024 draft), a hot start could push him to the top of the Packers' running back committee.
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PositiveMatchupSep 12, 2026FantasyPros Articles
MarShawn Lloyd faces a brutal Week 1 matchup against the Vikings, who allowed only 18.4 half-PPR points per game to running backs last season and held the position to 3.90 yards per carry, 4.73 yards per target, 3.9 targets per game (tied for 31st), 3.1 receptions per game, and 18.6 receiving yards per game. Brian Flores' Vikings led the NFL in blitz rate at 44.7% (league average 27.2%), and Minnesota's 46% blitz rate since 2023 is the highest in the NFL at 5.2% above second place, which could keep Lloyd off the field in passing situations.
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PositiveValueSep 12, 2026FantasyPros Articles
Lloyd offers plenty of appeal as a cost-effective back at $4,800 DraftKings/$4,900 FanDuel. While the Packers stated they plan to use a committee, that doesn't mean Lloyd can't show as the most effective back and get the most carries with goal line preference. Unlike teams like Seattle who use a committee by design, the Packers have been dedicated to a true three-down back since the arrival of Josh Jacobs. Lloyd is built to handle early-down work, is powerful enough for goal line work and can handle checkdowns.
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PositiveRoleSep 12, 2026FantasyPros Articles
Lloyd is primed to enter Week 1 as the Packers' workhorse back with Josh Jacobs on the commissioner-exempt list. His college tape is strong: in his final two seasons, he ranked 20th and 16th in yards after contact per attempt, third and 18th in breakaway rate, and fourth and 15th in elusive rating (per PFF, minimum 100 carries). Minnesota's run defense lost parts and added Caleb Banks, Domonique Orange, and Jake Golday this offseason. Derek Brown notes Minnesota ranked 16th in explosive run rate and 15th in yards after contact per attempt last year while giving up the sixth-highest rushing success rate and fourth-lowest stuff rate, suggesting Lloyd can exploit the matchup.
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NegativeRoleSep 11, 2026FantasyPros Articles
With Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner's Exempt List, MarShawn Lloyd is expected to operate as Green Bay's lead back when the Packers visit the Vikings on Sunday. Lloyd has been plagued by injuries throughout his college career and the early part of his NFL career, but he's healthy now and reportedly had a terrific training camp. However, the more experienced Chris Brooks is going to get a good number of running back snaps for the Packers, too, and Packers head coach Matt LaFleur probably isn't letting the oft-injured Lloyd handle a Derrick Henry-esque workload. The source regards Lloyd as a high-end RB3.
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NegativeRoleSep 11, 2026Fantasy Points Fantasy Football
Sit in Week 1. the source is significantly lower on Lloyd than industry consensus. Expected to get scripted out of the game and not receive passing-down work. Tough matchup against Vikings' aggressive Brian Flores-led defense that constantly mugs the A gaps; if Packers' interior offensive line holds up, Lloyd could exploit the aggressive scheme for explosive plays, but if beaten up by the double mug A gap look, expect a quiet day.
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PositiveRoleSep 11, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL
RB MarShawn Lloyd, a former third-round pick by the Packers in 2024, is now the apparent lead back after Josh Jacobs was placed on the Commissioner's Exempt list; despite having played only 10 regular-season snaps in his three-year NFL career and suffering from unfortunate injuries early in his career, Lloyd now has an opportunity at redemption. His different rushing style will invite changes to the offensive scheme, with the Packers leaning into the outside/mid zone scheme more heavily, transitioning back to what the offense looked like in earlier LaFleur years.
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PositiveRoleSep 11, 2026FantasyPros Articles
Derek Brown views MarShawn Lloyd as primed to enter Week 1 as the Packers' workhorse back with Josh Jacobs on the commissioner-exempt list. Lloyd showed strong collegiate production in his final two seasons: 20th and 16th in yards after contact per attempt, 3rd and 18th in breakaway rate, and 4th and 15th in elusive rating (per PFF, minimum 100 carries). The matchup is favorable: Minnesota's run defense lost some parts and added Caleb Banks, Domonique Orange, and Jake Golday this offseason. Last year, Minnesota ranked 16th in explosive run rate, 15th in yards before contact per attempt, gave up the sixth-highest rushing success rate, and allowed the fourth-lowest stuff rate.
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NegativeRoleSep 10, 2026Yahoo Fantasy Football
Lloyd presents two sides: one tells you he's the RB1 on a good offense with very little competition for carries; the other brings up that he has only six carries in two career years. The combination of limited experience with the Minnesota defense makes him more of an average flex play for Week 1 as his long-term role is figured out. However, Smyth still thinks if you drafted him before filling out your bench, he's a worthy start. In Green Bay's preseason, Lloyd was getting 100% of the snaps with the starters, was included in the passing game, and with only Kaleb Johnson as true competition for early down work, Smyth expects Lloyd to have that important role.
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PositiveProjectionSep 10, 2026Fantasy Life Articles
Lloyd is a low-end RB2 in Week 1 and should be in starting lineups in most 12-team leagues with 2 RBs and one flex spot; he is a lock in 12-team leagues with two flex options. With Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner's Exempt List, Lloyd is the favorite to lead the Packers backfield. Though highly unproven with only six career attempts, he resides in a potent offense committed to balance. The Packers project the No. 11 team total (24.0) in a close game (0.5 spread). The Vikings were a stout run defense in 2025 but lost Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in the interior, with Caleb Banks currently slotted as a backup. Lloyd settled as RB38 in drafts but projects far better in Week 1, landing in the same tier as Bucky Irving and Cam Skattebo and ahead of Jaylen Warren, Bhayshul Tuten, Jordan Mason, and J.K. Dobbins. He is RB22 in consensus ranks.
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NegativeRoleSep 9, 2026FantasyPros Articles
Lloyd is expected to be the Packers' No. 1 running back in Week 1 after Josh Jacobs was placed on the commissioner's exempt list due to a domestic incident charge. However, Lloyd's career has been plagued by injuries: he tore his ACL before his first college season, missed time with thigh and hamstring injuries at South Carolina, and suffered hamstring, hip, and ankle injuries in 2024 before missing the entire 2025 regular season. The source notes Lloyd spent the offseason working with a doctor who identified lingering ACL issues causing compensatory hip and ankle problems; Lloyd has adjusted his training and made it through camp and preseason intact. The Packers may also use veteran Chris Brooks and possibly Pierre Strong Jr. or Kaleb Johnson in Week 1 against a sturdy Minnesota run defense (9th in DVOA vs. run, 3.9 yards per carry allowed).
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NegativeRoleSep 9, 2026ESPN Fantasy Football
With Josh Jacobs sidelined, Lloyd is expected to operate as the lead back, with Chris Brooks and perhaps Pierre Strong Jr. also involved. Lloyd is an unproven commodity (he's appeared in one game in two pro seasons due to a variety of injuries), but the 2024 third-round pick is well positioned for 15 or so touches in Matt LaFleur's RB-friendly scheme. There's obvious risk, especially against a good Minnesota defense, but Lloyd can be viewed as an RB2/flex option in the season opener.
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PositiveBreakoutSep 9, 2026Yahoo Fantasy Football
Lloyd is fully healthy and has a clear path to getting on the field after battling through injuries; he secured Day 2 draft capital with 220 lbs of power and untapped potential as a receiver (17.8 yards per rec), making him a mystery box; regardless of how Josh Jacobs' off-field case shakes out, Lloyd's availability offers Green Bay the chance to keep their 28-year-old RB1 ready for a playoff run, and any flashes from the South Carolina alum will likely reward anyone who took him late in drafts.
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NegativeMatchupSep 9, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL
The risk is even more real against the Vikings' unique, No. one blitz-heavy (51%) defense that crowds the line of scrimmage with pre-snap threats. It's the type of matchup that could make Brooks' reliability more relied upon. Last year, the Vikings' defense allowed the fewest receiving yards and receiving TDs to RB rooms when adjusting for schedule because RBs are kept in to block. They did allow the most carries per game to RB rooms when adjusting for schedule, though some of that was due to game script given their awful QB play. Green Bay is 17th in projected points (22.5), and Lloyd's total yardage projection sits at 58.5 by the betting markets. He's a boom-bust FLEX play who can't afford Johnson mixing in on early downs.
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NegativeRoleSep 9, 2026Yahoo Sports NFL
With Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner's Exempt List for probably the next 4-10 weeks, Lloyd is officially getting his chance after years of injuries have prevented him from playing time as a former third-round selection. He'll be joined by reliable pass-protector Chris Brooks and unreliable outside-zone specialist Kaleb Johnson, who was acquired just last week. A three-back rotation in September is projected with Lloyd opening as the starter, but it's unlikely to be anything close to the 'Jacobs role' that made him the RB9 in half PPR since 2024.
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